Conservation: Fueling the Duck Factory

For almost 50 years, states have worked with DU to conserve vital waterfowl habitat across Canada

In short, NAWCA has paid off in spades. Within five years, state contributions for NAWCA habitat projects in Canada had doubled to about $2.5 million annually, and it has continued to grow since. In fiscal year 2013, 35 states contributed a record $3.2 million, and other states are continuing to join this creative international partnership.

One of the most compelling aspects of this effort is the multiplier effect. Since the beginning of the program, DU has matched every dollar contributed by the states. Furthermore, since the beginning of the NAWCA program in 1989, combined state and DU funding has been matched again by federal funding. This means that a state gets at least a dollar's worth of habitat conservation for every 25 cents invested. And because DU's match is composed of the contributions of its members and supporters, DU is getting the same rate of return on their behalf. This means that the states (and DU's supporters) received almost $13 million worth of conservation for their $3.2 million investment in 2013.

We always need to remember, though, that funding is the means to a desired end—habitat conservation. So what has all this funding actually accomplished? Since the beginning of the NAWMP in 1986, 19.8 million acres have been secured in Canada through acquisition of long-term agreements, and an additional 103.7 million acres have been conserved through activities such as public policy and management partnerships.

Taken together, that's an area about the size of North and South Dakota plus half of Nebraska. The investments of state, federal, and private partners in the United States represent 49 percent of the funding that made these remarkable habitat accomplishments possible.

Another reason for such strong support for this effort among the states is that the habitat conserved through their contributions benefits far more than waterfowl production. A broad diversity of other game and non-game fish and wildlife live in the same habitats. For example, many species of migratory birds breed in the same habitats as waterfowl, and many millions of birders delight in watching them each year as they migrate through and winter in their states.

Finally, this habitat conservation partnership is the foundation of recreational activity that generates tremendous economic benefits for every state and for the nation. For example, the economic activity associated with migratory bird hunting in the United States in 2011 supported 69,000 jobs, $3.4 billion in retail sales, $509 million in state and local taxes, and $589 million in federal taxes. So not only is NAWCA-based waterfowl habitat conservation clearly fuel for a tremendous economic machine, but the investments of the state and federal governments are also offset many times over by these tangible benefits to jobs and the economy.

Of course, it's not the strength of the business model or the compelling economic facts that have driven this enduring and successful partnership. It's the love of seeing waterfowl and other birds settling into our favorite places each fall, and in states across this nation, that motivates us. That is ultimately why state wildlife conservation agencies, Ducks Unlimited, and others have worked together for almost 50 years in this unique partnership to conserve habitat across Canada and all of North America. To learn more about this partnership's latest accomplishments for wetlands and waterfowl in Canada, visit nawmp.ca/pdf/HabMat2012English.pdf.

Dr. Scott Yaich is director of conservation planning and policy at DU national headquarters in Memphis.

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